Insert mechanism



April 27, 1937. R, B. LEWIS INSERT MEGHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 'April 27, 1937. R. B. LEWIS INSERT MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1'7, 1954 April 27, 1937. R. B. LEWIS INSERT MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV E NTO R F0555 7.5. L 5' W/5,

' ATTeRm INSERT MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1934 4 SheetsSheet 4 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,078,801 nseam MECHANISM Robert B. Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Tinius lsen .,Testing Machine Company, Philadelphia, lfa., a corporation of'Pennsylvania Application February 17, 1934, Serial No. 711,815

13 Claims. (01. 18-1) a mechanism for embedding an insert-in the face of a piece of material to increase theefliciency of the material andto prolong its wearing qualities; to provide a novel mechanism forfornung and assembling one or more insert fplugs in a piece of material; to provide means forforming plug. receiving apertures in a fabricj'and filling said apertures with amaterial difierefitj from the material of the fabric to produce alcomposite fabric face; to provide a novel fabric feeding mechanismin association with a punching and filling mechanism wherein the fabric-is impregnated with inserts arranged in a predetermined 2o pattern; toprovide a novel machine for, forming shaped inserts; and toprovide otherjimprovements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig 1 represents a side elevation of an insert forming me.- chine embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 represents a plan of thejmachine; Fig. 4 represents one face'of astrip' of material showing insert plugs therein; Fig. "5 represents the opposite face of the strip shown inFig. 4 with .insert plugs of a different color; Fig. (irepresents a section on line 66 of Fig. 5; Figiiiliepresents a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 3; and'Fig. 8 represents a perspective of the machine. Referring to the drawings one forni of the present invention is shown consisting of a bed frame lil upon whichthe operating adjuncts and associated parts are mounted. The purpose of the machine is to form perforations in a strip of fabric II such as used for brake linings, belts, or other purposes, and to fill such perforations with -material in the form of plugs which may be of graphitic mixture or any othersubstance which I is to serve as a supplemental surface for the re.--

spective faces of the fabric; As here shown the fabric ll comes to the machine in the form of a coil which can be conveniently mounted adjacent thereto so that it can be unwound and fed to the machine as required. In this instance a support i2 is provided and permanently located adjacent the machine having a laterally disposed hanger.

[3 which is arranged to enter the open central portion of the coil to support the latter so that it can be easily unwound; The-fabric ll passes up- ,vvardly"throughthe'operating adjuncts of the machine and at the discharge end is arranged to pass over a curved guide [4 in order to be directed to a reel I5 conveniently located adjacent thereto. The reel I5 is rotatably mounted on a standard it which is fixed at its lower end to the frame l0 and is preferably in the form of a disc having a winding drum I1 coaxially arranged with respect thereto. The guide I4 is permanently mounted upon a post l8 or the like in such a position that the discharging end of the fabric H initially rides thereon in' the plane of its passage through the machine so that at no time during the feeding operation is there opportunity for the fabric to be improperly deflected from its course or from its desired relative position with respect to other parts of the machine. The feeding of the fabric Ii through the machine is accomplished in the present instance by the provision of a pair of friction rollers 20 and 2| at the inlet end of the machine and a like pair of friction rollers 22 and23 at the discharge end of the machine, which rollers are arranged to be operated by a step by step mechanism as will be later described.

For positioning the fabric I l in the machine in proper relation to the operating adjuncts so that the required punching and plug inserting opera- ,tion can be accurately carried out, a guide way 24 is formed by two jaw plates 25 and 26 arranged opposite and parallel, the former being a part of a back plate 21 which is fast to the bed frame l0, and the latter a part of abackplate 28 which is mounted in horizontally disposed ways 3b of the frame [0. The two back plates 2'! and 28 mount the jaw plates 25 and 26 in vertical parallel relation. Since the back plate 28 with its plate 26 can be moved relative to the plate 25, the general function is that of a vise cooperating with the fabric. The action of this vise member is to hold the fabric ll against movement during. part of the operating cycle of the machine, and to release it during other portions-of the cycle so that the fabric II can be fed, stopped, and resume feeding in the required manner. This reciprocation of the back plate 28 with its attached jaw plate 26 is brought about by means of a boss 3| preferably formed integral with the plate parts and having a rod 32 threaded therein andextendlng lengthwise of the machine to a suitable I location where it terminates in a bifurcated end 33 which is pivotally pinned to an operating arm 34. The rod 32 is encircled by a coil spring 35 which is placed under compression by resting at one end'against the face of the boss 3| and at the other end against a lock-nut construction friction roller 22.

36 which is threaded upon the rod 32 at a suitable place intermediate the ends thereof. The action of the spring is to cause the rod 32 to move endwise in a direction so that the jaw plate 26 is normally in its open position with respect to the jaw plate 25. In order to shift the plate 26 to its gripping position the arm 34 is pivoted at 3'! and carries on its free end a roller 38 held in face contact with a cam rotatably mounted upon a driven shaft ll. As will later appear this driven shaft 4! is preferably also usedto control other movable adjuncts of the apparatus and the relation of which to the jaw movement is properly timed in the cycle of operations.

For the purpose of giving the'fabric it its for- 7 Ward feeding movement in step with the opening 7 I of the plates 25 and 25, the friction roller 29 is provided with a ratchet 42" arranged to'be operated by a spring pressed pawl 43 pivoted upon a rock lever 44 which is connected by a link 45 with a connectingrod 56 operated by the crank of the cam 40. The friction roller 2! is likewise provided with a ratchet A! and pawl 48, which is operated by a rock lever 50, link 5i and connecting rod which latter extends in the opposite direction from the rod 46 to connect with a crank disc which is fast to a driven shaft 54 which parallels the shaft 4! but at the opposite end of the ma: chine. The motion of the connecting rod '35 is also utilized to rock an arm 55 which is pivoted at 56 and has its other end connected at 5! to a link 58 whereby a pawl supporting arm is operated to actuate a pivoted spring pressed pawl SI for cooperation with a ratchet 62 fast to the Likewise the connecting rod 52 is utilized to rock arm 63 which is pivoted at 64 and has its upper end connected to a link 65 leading to pivoted pawl lever 58 which carries on its free end a pivoted spring pressed pawl ill interconnecting with a ratchet 63 to rotate the friction roller 23. The operating adjuncts of the rollers 26 and 2! operate to rotate the rollers respectively in opposite directions so that the fabric is fed upwardly into the guide way 26. Similarly the rollers 22 and 23 are oppositely rotated to continue the feeding of the fabric out of the machine as suitable bracket it. forms a support bearing for the shaft H of theroller 23. An adjustable bracket 12 forms bearings for the shaft 13 of the roller 22. A brackets forrnsa bearing for the shaft 15 of the roller 2!, and an adjustable bracket 76 formsa bearing for the shaftT of the roller 25. An adjusting screw 18 operating against a fixed part serves to adjust the roller 20 operatively with respect to the roller 2i so that the proper frictional engagement can take place. A like adjusting screw 80 is provided in conjunction with the bracket 12 in order to properly locate the friction roller 22 with respect to the roller 23.

From the foregoing it will be evident that as the shafts 40 and Al rotate in synchronism there will be a simultaneous step by step operation of the two pairs of feed rolls with the resuit that the fabric H will travel through the way 25 with a succession of stops in order that certain operations now to be described can take place during the rest periods of the fabric. I

As a means for perforating the fabric with one or more holes, or with holes in a predetermined pattern, the two vise plates 25 and 25 are drilled laterally at a convenient location preferably near the receiving end of the way 2iand these holes 8!,

.so formed register one with the other and also with punches82. These punches it are mounted for sliding movement in guide blocks 83 and 84, the former being attached to the plate 26 and the latter fixed to the plate 28. The other ends of the punches 82 are fastened to a tool holder plate 85 which is bolted or otherwise made fast to a reciprocable head 86 mounted for sliding movement in ways 8'! of the main frame lEl. With the fabric in place in the guideway 24, and held by the viseplates 2'5 and 26, a forward movement of the punch holder 85 will cause the punches 82 to pass through the fabric and leave one or more clean cut holes as the case may be, while the punchings are ejected through the plate 25 by the full stroke of the punch 82 and can be directed into any suitable collecting receptacle.

In order to fill the perforations or holes in the -fabric made by the punches 82, the latter passes "tintohregister with'a plurality of holes 88 formed respectively in the opposed faces of the plates 25 'and25, all of the holes in one plate being respectively in register with the holes in the other plate. Filling plungers 90 and 9! are arranged in two groups also registering respectively with the holes 88 but spaced by the vise members 25 and 25 so that the plungers 9E} and 8| approach the fabric H from opposite sides. The plungers illlare suitably guided inbrackets 92 and are normallywithdrawn from the holes 88 by springs 93. Likewise the plungers 9! at the opposite side are held withdrawn from the holes 88 by coil springs 94 and are suitably guided in a plate 95. Motion istransmitte-d to the two groups of plungers 9t and SI vby the simultaneous approaching movement of two presser plates 96 and 91, caused in the case of plate 96 by the reciprocation of the head 86-, and in the case of the plate 97 by the reciprocation of ,a second reciprocable head 98.

.shaft H39 is'driven by a gear HG from a suitable source of power. 1 i i ,wForthepurpose of supplying plug or insert material to fill the aforesaid holes in the fabric H, two vertically arranged hoppers Ill and H2 are respectively located at the upper ends of the two plates 21 and 28, each having an inclined bottom wall which serves to converge its contents downwardly toward the lower end through which the plunger members are arranged to pass as they reciprocate toward and away from the fabric. The plate 25, as here shown, forms 'one side of the hopper H2, and the plate 26 forms the corresponding side of the hopper H I and-the filling plungers 90 and SI pass freely through the sides-of the bottom portion of each hopper thereby forcing the material through the holes 'in the plates 25 and 26 and into the perforations in the fabric H so that the latter are filled-under pressure and the plugs so formed fill the holes previously punched in the fabric.

Preferably it is desirable to provide an agitating-device for keeping the material loose and in condition to feed easily to the lower end of the hoppers to take a position between the holes in the hopper and the two sets of punches, and therefore agitator'rods H3 enter the respective "hoppers to pass transversely across between the material. These rods I I3 protrude from the side of the hopper and are guided in a bracket I I9 and are normally held at the end of a working stroke by springs II4 coiled respectively about the rods H3 and which are held under compression between the outer hopper wall and collars I I5 fixed respectively upon the rods 3. The working stroke of the agitator rods, in the direction opposite to the action of the springs, is brought about by the rocking movement of a rigid strip IIB which is arranged to intercept the rods H3 and shift them transversely across the interior of the two hoppers. The strip H6 is carried by an arm II'I fixed to a pivot pin H8 which is freely rotatable in a bearing I and receives a rocking movement imparted by a lever arm I2I. free end of thisarm I2I is normally pressed into contact with a bell crank I22 by a compression spring I23 suitably mounted for the purpose. The

"bell crank I22 is pivoted at I29 and has its opcrating arm connected to a laterally arranged rod I24 which passesthrough a pick-up bracket I25 fast to the reciprocable head 98. The rod I24 terminates in a nut I26 or other tappet forming ment of the bracket I25 in one direction, and

therefore the length of the rod I24 is such as to permit the proper relative movement of the head 98 and the bracket I25 before the two are caused to move together to operate the agitator rods I I3.

For preventing relative displacement of the fabric II as it is fed vertically through the way 24, a guide strip I30 is fixed to the frame I0 to parallel the edges of the vise plates 25 and 26 and to overlap the guide way 24 throughout its length. The arrangement is such that the strip II-lil lies substantially flush with the plane of the plate edges at one side andthus provides a vertical guide against which one edge of the fabric II rides in its movement. The opposite edge of the fabric rides against two guides I3I and I32 located respectively at the bottom and top of the way 24 and all adjustable towards and away from the strip I30 to conform to fabrics of different width. Thus in the case of the guide I 3|, two adjusting bolts I33 project laterally from the bottom of'the strip I30 and space the guide I3I from the strip I30 in accordance with the width of the fabric to be used. Likewise an adjusting bolt I34 projects laterally from the strip I30 adjacent the discharge end'of the way 24 and adjustably mounts the guide I32 in spaced rela- 'tion from the strip I30. and I32 are located the same distance from the Since the guides I3I strip I30 for a given width of fabric, the latter is held in perfect vertical alinement as it passes through the way 24 and the punching and filling operations take place with the desired regularity of arrangement.

In the present instance the reel I5 is given a step-by-step movement by means of a ratchet I and pawl I4I, the latterbeing of the spring pressed type and pivoted to a rock lever I42 which The ratchet I40 to prevent improper unwinding or release of the winding drum.

In the preferred form of the machine two substance delivering hoppers are employed being spaced by the path of the strip to be plugged,

and the substance from both hoppers being plugged into the holes in the strip of material by plungers working from opposite sides 'of the strip. This is a very effective way of plugging the holes in the strip and it also lends itself to using two substances one of a color different from the other so that the plugs on one side appear as inserts of one color, while the plugs on the opposite side appear as inserts of another color. Broadly speaking, however, the machine is capable of functioning with but one hopper and one set of punches and plugs, and when so used the material is plugged from one side only.

In the operation of the machine the hoppers are filled with a substance to be used as inserts and over the guide I4, where its end is attached to the winding reel. Preferably at the start of operations a lead-in strip is attached tothe main strip so that the plugging of the strip of material will take place at the very beginning of its length. When the strip has advanced to a point opposite the punching mechanism the cycle of operations issuch that the punches are advanced to pass through the guide holes and pass into or through the material as the case may be. At the instant the punches reach a position to engage the strip of material the step-by-step mechanism is in its rest position and the vise plate 25 has been advanced by the crank arm 89 to clamp the strip against movement during the punching operation When this operation is complete the step-by-step feed continues and another punching operation takes place when the receiving holes in the material, which have been provided by the punches, come into register with the hopper discharge holes. The forward movement of the plungers 93 and 94 then causes the substance to beplugged into the holes from both sides, or in case the hole has not been punched clear through the material, the punches from one side will plug that side only. The step-by-step mechanism is so timed in the cycle of operations as to bring the holes in the strip into register with the hopper holes after each forward feeding of the strip, and the operation continues with successive holes in the strip being brought into alignment with the plunger mechanism so that the entire strip is provided with face inserts arranged in any desired order or design. It should also be noted that the substance in the hoppers is kept free to flow down into the space in the holes of the strip and the ends of the plungers by operation of the agitator rods H3 which are brought into operation as the head 98 reciprocates under the action of the crank arm I02. Thus the bell crank I29 is moved clock-wise to operate the agitators in one direction by the movement of the head 98 to the left (as seen in Fig. 1) and when this latter returns the spring I23 causes the bell crank to return to its formerposition and thus allow the agitators H3 to be retracted by the springs H4.

The present invention also contemplates a modified operation by reversing the direction of the strip feeding means and bringing a perforated strip past the hoppers where its perforations are plugged with the desired substance and .then the formed plugs can be ejected by the punches. By this operation the machine can be used to form pills, pellets, or any other shaped articles capable of being molded in a preformed hole.

While only a single form is shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction, but might be applied to various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:--

1. In a machine of the character stated, a hopper for an insert substance having a substance delivery hole therein, a plunger arranged to traverse said hopper to expel substance by way of said hole, a second hopper for an insert substance juxtaposed with respect to said first hopper and having a substance delivery hole therein, a plunger arranged to traverse said second hopper to expel substance through the hole therein, means to position a perforated strip of material so that the holes therein and hopper holes register, and means for actuating said plungers to plug said holes with substance from said hoppers.

2. In a machine of the character stated, a hopper for an insert substance having a substance delivery hole therein, a plunger arranged to traverse said hopper to expel substance by way of said hole, a second hopper for an insert substance juxtaposed with respect to said first hopper and having a substance delivery hole therein registering with the hole of said first hopper, a plunger arranged to traverse said second hopper to expel substance through the hole therein, means to position a strip of material having a hole therein to cause said hole to register with said hopper holes, and means to operate said plungers to cause said strip hole to be plugged with said substance from opposite sides.

3. In a machine of the character stated, a hopper for an insert substance having a substance delivery hole therein, a plunger arranged to traverse said hopper to expel substance by way of said hole, a second hopper for an insert substance juxtaposed with respect to said first hopper and having a substance delivery hole therein registering with the hole of said first hopper, a plunger arranged to traverse said second hopper to expel substance through the hole therein, means to intermittently move a strip of material having a series of holes therein so that said holes are successively brought into register with said hopper holes, and means to cause said plungers to plug each strip hole from opposite sides with said substance as each hole comes into register with said hopper holes.

4. In a machine of the character stated, a hopper for an insert substance having a substance delivery hole therein, a plunger arranged to traverse said hopper to expel substance by way of said hole, a second hopper for an insert substance juxtaposed with respect to said first hopper and having a substance delivery hole therein registering with the hole of said first hopper, a plunger arranged to traverse said second hopper to expel substance through the hole therein, means to intermittently move a strip of material having a series of holes therein so that said holes are successively brought into register with said hopper holes, means to cause said plungers to plug each strip hole from opposite sides with said substance as each hole comes into register with said hopper holes, and means to hold said strip against movement during said plugging operation.

5. In a machine of the character stated, a hopper for an insert substance having a substance delivery hole therein, a plunger arranged to traverse said hopper to expel substance by Way of said hole, a second hopper for an insert substance juxtaposed with respect to said first hopper and having a substance delivery hole therein registering with the hole of said first hopper, a plunger arranged to traverse said second hopper to expel substance through the hole therein, means to intermittently move a strip of material having a series of holes therein so that said holes are successively brought into register with said hopper holes, means to cause said plungers to plug each strip hole from opposite sides with said substance as each hole comes into register with said hopper holes, means to hold said strip against movement during said plugger operation, and means for maintaining said strip in a predetermined path of movement and including members adjustable group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for oppositely moving said groups. 7. In apparatus for plugging brake linings, a

V series of reciprocable pins, including punches and rams, means to support a strip of brake lining for operations by said punches and rams, means to advance the strip over the supporting means in steps of such length that openings formed by the punches subsequently align with the rams, and means to support plugging material in alignment with the rams to be forced into the openings of the strip, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for oppositely moving said groups.

8. In apparatus for plugging brake linings, punches, rams, means to actuate said punches and rams, intermittent feeding means for advancing a strip of brake lining successively to said punches and rams, means for supporting plugging material in alignment with the rams to be forced by the rams into the punch-formed openings of the strip, and means for clamping the strip intermediate advances thereof by said feeding means, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for oppositely moving said groups.

9. In apparatus for plugging brake linings, a series of reciprocable pins, including punches and rams, means to support a strip of brake lining for operations by said punches and rams, means to advance the strip over the supporting m ans in steps of such length that openings formed by the punches subsequently align with the rams, means to support plugging material in alignment with the rams to be forced into the openings of the strip, and means for clamping the strip intermediate advances thereof by said feeding means, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for oppositely moving said groups.

10.'In apparatus for plugging brake linings, punches, rams, means to actuate said punches and rams, intermittent feeding means for advancing a strip of brake lining successively to said punches and rams, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for simultaneously oppositely moving said groups, and means to interpose plugging material between said ram groups.

11. In apparatus for plugging brake linings, punches, rams, means to actuate said punches and rams, intermittent feeding means for advancing a strip of brake lining successively to said punches and rams, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for simultaneously oppositely moving said groups, means to interpose plugging material between said ram groups, and a hopper for plugging material associated with each group of rams and through which the groups operate.

12. In apparatus for plugging brake linings, a

series of rams, means to feed a strip of perforated brake lining by the rams in a manner aligning the perforations of the strip with said rams, means to actuate said rams, and means for supporting plugging material in alignment with the rams to be forced between the rams into the openings of the strip, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for oppositely moving said groups.

13. In apparatus for plugging brake linings, a series of reciprocable pins including punches and rams, means to support a strip of brake lining for operations by said punches and rams, means to advance the strip over the supporting means in such manner that openings formed by the punches subsequently align with the rams, and means to support plugging material in alignment with the rams to be forced into the openings of the strip, said rams comprising two groups, each ram of each group opposing a ram of the other group, the operating means for the rams comprising means for oppositely moving said groups.

ROBERT B. LEWIS. 

